Bitdefender vs Avast: which antivirus is better in 2025

Both Bitdefender and Avast are reliable antivirus programs with excellent real-time malware detection rates. They protect against malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks, while also offering real-time scanning and compatibility across the most popular operating systems. Based on both my tests and the tests run by independent software labs, Bitdefender is the better overall solution with 100% real-time detection and a broader feature set. In conjunction with other features like advanced ransomware protection and anti-tracking tools, Bitdefender is the overall better antivirus choice over Avast. I conducted my in-house testing on a Dell XPS 15 running Windows 11, as well as a MacBook Air (M1, running macOS Sonoma).
Bitdefender Total Security | Avast Antivirus Gold | |
Our rating: | 9.4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Main advantage: | ✅100% real-time malware detection | ✅Pay monthly |
Main disadvantage: | ❌No monthly payment options | ❌Much pricier annual subscription cost |
Price: | $9.99/year | $63.00/year |
Current deals: | 78% OFF Bitdefender Total Security | 65% OFF Avast Antivirus Gold |
Which is better, Bitdefender or Avast, in terms of protection?
In 2025, Bitdefender offers better overall protection, though test results showed only a very small gap between Bitdefender and Avast. AV-Comparatives and AV-TEST continually carry out independent lab tests to assess the efficiency of antivirus software at detecting viruses and other types of malware. In 2025 tests, Bitdefender scored a perfect 100% real-time protection rate, while Avast scored a very respectable 99.9%. After testing the software for myself in-house with sample ransomware and malware files from EICAR (European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research), I saw similar results – Bitdefender blocked 100% of threats, while Avast nearly matched this success but produced several false positives.
Virus online detection rate | Virus offline detection rate | Online protection rate | |
Bitdefender | 100% | 98% | 100% |
Avast | 99.9% | 97% | 99.9% |
It’s an extremely close match between both providers, and Bitdefender and Avast will keep you safe with strong real-time protection results proven through lab and in-house testing. However, Bitdefender provides a better protection rate overall.
Virus online and offline detection test
Independent lab AV-TEST regularly tests antivirus software and scores both Bitdefender and Avast highly in its tests, in 2025. Bitdefender achieved a perfect 100% malware-detection rate in online detection and protection tests, with only a small slip in offline detection rates. Avast followed closely in second place, scoring 99.9% in online detection and protection, but 97% in offline protection rates.
Both antiviruses had reasonable scan times, with Avast finishing a quick scan much faster than Bitdefender. Bitdefender took around 4 minutes to complete, while Avast was done in just 10 seconds, even after finding 2 system issues. I didn’t like that Avast gives no indicator of how many files it has scanned – Bitdefender scanned over 4,000 files in its quick scan and around 480,000 in the full scan, highlighting why the process can take time.


In addition to being faster, Avast was more lightweight while running a scan in the background. Avast consumed just 3% CPU during its scan, while Bitdefender peaked at 7%. Bitdefender also appears to run two separate processes compared to Avast’s singular process, but cumulatively they used no more memory (RAM) than Avast. Neither software impacted on my device speed when I tried streaming and gaming during an active scan.


In summary, Bitdefender is more effective at catching malware with its real-time protection, but Avast is likely to complete scans more quickly. Meanwhile, both antivirus packages have roughly the same impact on system performance when operating at peak capacity.
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Virus protection results
To verify the excellent results seen in lab tests by both Bitdefender and Avast, I tested both antivirus clients using industry-standard methods. This included EICAR test malware files that mimic real-world malware threats, including:
- Standard EICAR files: Basic “malware” files designed to trigger malware detection engines in antivirus software clients.
- EICAR files embedded in archives: These are test malware files in ZIP and RAR formats that test whether an antivirus can detect compressed threats.
Of the 10 different simulations that I ran in-house, Bitdefender detected 100% of the EICAR malware sample files, including compressed threats. The web protection tools actually prevented me from downloading some of the files in the first place. Meanwhile, Avast detected 9 out of 10 sample files, in particular struggling with simulated phishing links – this was where Avast lost one point. Also, Avast occasionally allowed me to trigger an EICAR download before it recognized the threat.
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Avast vs Bitdefender price
Bitdefenders Antivirus Plus, Internet Security, and Total Security plans cost $9.99/year, $42.99/year, and $19.99/year respectively. Meanwhile, Avast offers Silver protection for $2.29/month and Gold for $5.25/month – so, $27.48 or $63.00 for the year. Bitdefender offers a greater number of features in its lower-tier plans when compared with Avast. While Avast's system cleanup tools offered better functionality in my tests, they are more expensive.
Avast's Gold plan covers up to 5 devices compared to the Silver plan's 3-device coverage, so I recommend it for families. Since Gold includes VPN protection, it's also well-suited to people who love streaming and want to unblock any streaming site in the world. With Bitdefender, I recommend choosing Total Security for the best protection that includes a VPN connection. Mac and mobile users will want to avoid other plans, as Antivirus Plus and Internet Security don't protect smartphones, tablets, or macOS devices in general.
I would’ve liked to see greater variety in Bitdefender’s plans for mac and iOS users, but overall, Bitdefender is the better value antivirus, as it's cheaper in most cases when you divide the annual payment by twelve and compare it to Avast. It also has a greater number of features in its basic plan, making it the better provider overall.
Plan | Bitdefender | Avast |
Antivirus Plus/Premium Security | $9.99/year | $27.48/year |
Internet Security | $42.49/year | - |
Total Security/Avast One | $19.99/year | $63.00/year |
Devices covered | 1-10 | 1-10 |
Free | ✅Yes, limited free version | ✅Yes, limited free version |
Free trial | ✅Yes, 30 day free trial | ✅Yes, 30 day free trial |
Refund policy | ✅Yes, 30 day money-back guarantee | ✅Yes, 30 day money-back guarantee |
Both Avast and Bitdefender offer a 30-day free trial that doesn’t require you to provide payment details. What’s more, after your free trial you can get a 30-day money-back guarantee too so you can potentially try either or both products for 60 days without charge! However, Bitdefender takes the crown for having the best value for your money and cheap subscriptions. Plus, you can save even more by using a Bitdefender discount code.
Bitdefender vs Avast free versions compared
Bitdefender and Avast both have free antivirus software, offering basic malware and virus protection. Avast Free Antivirus has a basic smart scan and password manager in its free tier, while Bitdefender offers scanning but no password vault. However, Bitdefender’s free antivirus performed better in my in-house tests with 100% real-time protection detection, and anti-phishing and anti-ransomware tools. For basic and free protection, Bitdefender is the better choice.
However, free antivirus software lacks some of the most important features that you get with a paid subscription. For example, Bitdefender's premium tiers offer parental controls, webcam protection, anti-tracker software, and an advanced firewall – none of which are included in the free version. For reliable protection against computer threats, I recommend choosing a premium subscription and making the most of the 30-day free trial and subsequent 30-day money-back guarantee.
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Bitdefender or Avast offers more features?
In my assessment of whether Bitdefender or Avast is the better antivirus, I assessed each software’s feature set. Here’s a comparison of the core security features available from each antivirus:
Feature | Bitdefender ($19.99/year) | Avast ($63/year) |
Real-time malware protection | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Ransomware protection | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
VPN (virtual private network) | ✅ Yes (200MB/day) | ✅ Yes (5GB/month) |
Anti-phishing software | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Password manager | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Multi-device compatibility | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Firewall | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Webcam protection | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
System optimization tools | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Parental controls | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
In addition to being cheaper than Avast, Bitdefender is the better option when it comes to the number of security features offered. Avast lacks parental controls, webcam protection, and system tune-up tools compared to Bitdefender. Webcam protection is useful, but parental controls and system optimization are nice-to-have features that might not suit everyone. An individual user, for example, doesn’t require parental control over the software. However, the bigger issue in my opinion is that Avast does not have a firewall, while Bitdefender does. Given the importance of a firewall for blocking incoming threats on your internet network, this is a huge factor in determining Bitdefender as the better choice for features.
My experience with Bitdefender and Avast apps
For this comparison, I ran my in-house tests on a Dell XPS 15 that uses Windows 11, and a MacBook Air M1 on macOS Sonoma 14.7.1. I also ran mobile tests using an iPhone 15 Pro Max on iOS 18 and an Android Google Pixel 3. I felt that the overall experience was better with Bitdefender on both mobile and desktop, owing to reasons I’ve explored in more detail below.
Avast vs Bitdefender scanning options
Bitdefender and Avast Antivirus both provide the usual scan options that I would expect to see, including a quick scan, full scan, and customizable scans, which let you choose specific areas of your device to target.
Bitdefender | Avast | |
Full scan | ✅ Yes (scan took over 1 hour) | ✅ Yes (scan took 18 minutes) |
Custom scan | ✅ Yes (customizable –specify target folders/files) | ✅ Yes (customizable –specify target folders/files) |
Quick scan | ✅ Yes (Took 4 minutes) | ✅ Yes (Took 10 seconds) |
Additional scanning options | ✅ Yes (cloud scanning, vulnerability scanning, boot-time scanning) | ✅ Yes (smart scan, performance scan, software updater) |
Both Bitdefender and Avast offer a good range of scanning options, but Bitdefender has a broader arsenal of options. Bitdefender includes quick, full, and custom scans, plus “Vulnerability Scanner”, which identifies system weaknesses. In my tests, it identified some apps that were running outdated software, and it recommended changes to passwords that could be made more secure. Avast offers the same core scans but lacks an equivalent to the Vulnerability Scanner – this gives Bitdefender an edge in security.
For daily use, I recommend choosing a quick scan to check that no threats are present without any risk to system performance. You can then schedule a full scan each week or every two weeks to thoroughly check your system for any vulnerabilities and threats. Bitdefender is the better solution and perfectly handles each of these scenarios with more effective malware detection and the inclusion of extra tools like the Vulnerability Scanner.
Which is better, Avast or Bitdefender, for Windows and Mac computers?
Bitdefender is better than Avast for both Windows and Mac devices. On Windows devices, Bitdefender integrates with core system features such as the Windows Security Center, allowing you to benefit from its firewall protection without conflicts. Even on Mac, it has been optimized to protect you against threats that are unique to macOS – an area in which some antiviruses can fall short. It also includes tools designed to protect your Mac backups against ransomware that can lock up your system and demand payment.

While Avast offers strong malware protection, the user experience is let down somewhat by recurring pop-up messages that ask if you’d like to upgrade. Even if you’re using a premium subscription, you can see these sales messages for other Avast products. During my in-house tests, they appeared on my Avast dashboard. What’s more, on Mac devices Avast’s feature set is stripped back.

There's no firewall, fewer system-optimizing tools, and more basic ransomware protection. Unlike Bitdefender for example, it doesn't safeguard your backups in Time Machine. There's also no Sandbox Mode – a feature offered on Windows that lets you run suspicious files without risk to your device.
Bitdefender vs Avast for Android and iPhone
Avast’s dedicated Android app offers a malware scanner, junk clean-up tool, and public Wi-Fi protection to keep your device safe on unsecured networks. You can also use the Avast SecureLine VPN on Android, though it has a limit of 5GB/month if you don’t subscribe to the service separately – separate VPN subscriptions have no data limitations. Unfortunately, the app suffers from the same pop-ups seen on the desktop version, which detracts from the overall experience. On iOS, Avast focuses more on its VPN, Wi-Fi security, and web protection settings owing to iOS limitations that prevent virus scanning.
Bitdefender is more feature-rich on Android devices, with on-demand malware scanning, web protection tools, an app-lock feature, and Bitdefender’s VPN – with a 200Mb/day limit. The app provides a clean user interface with clearly defined sections for each feature. What’s more, scans are quick and lightweight, with no impact on device performance even when I played mobile games or streamed on Netflix. The iOS version focuses on privacy and online security due to the lessened threat of malware on Apple devices, including anti-phishing tools, web protection, VPN, and account breach monitoring.
Overall, my experience was similar across devices, with both Bitdefender and Avast having the same limitations on Apple mobile devices. However, owing to Avast’s continued bombardment with sales pop-ups, Bitdefender was the better overall choice on mobile too.
Customer support
Bitdefender offers 24/7 phone support to all premium subscribers; during my in-house testing, I waited around 5 minutes for an answer, which is consistent with the 5 to 15 minutes reported by other users. Alternatively, you can get in touch via email with a 24 to 48 response time. I also tested live chat, which is available 24/7 and has the fastest response times. Within a couple of minutes, I was connected to a human agent who was knowledgeable about the software.

Similarly, Avast offers phone support to premium subscribers. However, unlike Bitdefender's 24/7 phone line, Avast only offers phone support within business hours. You can also send an email with a 24-48 hour response time, though I was surprised to see that live chat, like phone support, is limited to business hours. When I tried the live chat feature, I had a response within a couple of minutes from a knowledgeable human agent.

To its credit, Avast also offers a community forum that is very active and full of users eager to help each other out. If you’re still stuck for answers, there is a knowledge base with useful FAQs and articles that help you understand the software. However, for troubleshooting, you may end up needing to speak to an agent. For these reasons, I believe that Bitdefender’s customer support experience is better.
Final verdict: Which antivirus is better, Bitdefender or Avast?
Bitdefender and Avast are both legitimate and secure antivirus solutions with a lot of similarities in terms of performance and feature set. My in-house tests determined that they are both strong choices for protecting your device against viruses, ransomware, and other cyber threats. However, while they share similarities, they are separate antivirus companies that offer unique solutions – Bitdefender Antivirus and Avast Antivirus excel in different areas.
- Antivirus scan time: Avast wins as the faster antivirus at completing scans, with quick and full scans completing in around 10.5 seconds and 18 minutes, respectively. Comparatively, Bitdefender took around 4 minutes and 1 hour 15 minutes, respectively. However, Avast’s actual performance is hard to judge because it doesn’t show you how many files were scanned.
- Antivirus protection strength: Bitdefender wins, outperforming Avast in malware detection with a real-time protection rate of 100% in most tests. Avast scored only slightly below this, with between 97-99.9% depending on the test.
- Security features: Bitdefender is the winner thanks to a more feature-stuffed offering that includes webcam protection, parental controls, system optimization tools, and a firewall – none of which Avast Antivirus has.
- Price: Bitdefender takes the win again thanks to a $19.99/year price tag. While you can pay for Avast monthly, it works out to a much steeper $63.00 for the year.
- User interface: Bitdefender edges past Avast in this area, too. Bitdefender and Avast both have fine-tuned user interfaces that are simple to understand and use. However, I would like to see Avast make small tweaks – for example, telling you clearly how many files have been scanned.
- Customer support: Bitdefender offers a better customer support experience, with a 24/7 live chat feature that is personally my first choice whenever I need to interact with a company. Avast only offers live chat support during business hours. While the phone line makes for a reliable alternative, it too is only available during business hours.
Overall, Bitdefender is better than Avast in 2025. While scans can take longer, it excels past Avast in all other areas that I tested in-house, including in real-time malware protection efficiency, customer support, the number of features you get, and the overall price.
FAQ
Are Bitdefender and Avast the same company?
No, Bitdefender and Avast aren't the same company; they are two separate companies, both of which produce consumer antivirus software for a range of operating systems. However, Bitdefender and Avast have a lot of similarities in that they both protect your devices against malware, ransomware, phishing attacks, and other threats.
Is Bitdefender better than Avast for security?
Yes, based on my tests in 2025, Bitdefender is better than Avast for security thanks to a higher real-time malware detection rate – 100% in most scenarios, confirmed by lab tests and independent testing. It also offers more security features that Avast doesn’t have, such as webcam protection and a firewall.
Which is better, Bitdefender or Avast for Android?
Bitdefender is the better choice for Android devices, as it’s the better overall antivirus between Bitdefender and Avast. Specifically on Android, its scanning software is more effective at providing real-time protection. It identified all EICAR test files that I presented it with during my tests. What’s more, Avast tends to bombard you with pop-ups for an upgraded subscription or other Avast products.
Should I uninstall Avast before installing Bitdefender?
Yes, you should uninstall Avast before you install Bitdefender. Running multiple antivirus programs on your device can cause conflicts. In some cases, it can slow down your machine or even compromise your security as one program can stop another from working correctly. Bitdefender, the antivirus winner in my tests, asked me if I wanted to uninstall Avast when I was going through the setup process.